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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Genetics and Breeding Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #293683
Title: Peanut

Author
item Holbrook, Carl - Corley
item BRENNEMAN, T - University Of Georgia
item STALKER, H - North Carolina State University
item Johnson, Wiley - Carroll
item OZIAS-AKINS, P - University Of Georgia
item CHU, Y - University Of Georgia
item VELLIDIS, G - University Of Georgia
item MCCLUSKY, D - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Yield Gains in Major U.S. Field Crops
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/15/2013
Publication Date: 3/1/2014
Citation: Holbrook Jr, C.C., Brenneman, T.B., Stalker, H.T., Johnson, W.C., Ozias-Akins, P., Chu, Y., Vellidis, G., Mcclusky, D. 2014. Peanut. In: S. Smith, B. Diers, J. Specht, and B. Carver (eds).Yield Gains in Major U.S. Crop Fields. CSSA, Madison, WI. Pp. 101-122.

Interpretive Summary: Average yields of peanut in the U. S. set an all time record of 4,200 lb./A in 2012. This far exceeded the previous record yield of 3,430 lb./A in 2008. Favorable weather conditions undoubtedly contributed to the record yields in 2012; however, these record yields would not have been achievable without numerous technological advances that have been made in peanut production. The cumulative effect of these technological advances caused U. S. yields to increase six fold from 660 lb./A in 1909 to 4,200 lb./A in 2012. It is proposed that the recent yield increases are due to improvements in peanut genetics through germplasm diversity, integrating the attributes of new germplasm into advanced cultivars, herbicides with improved consistency, effective fungicides for an array of diseases, and wide-scale use of technology associated with precision agriculture.

Technical Abstract: Average yields of peanut in the U.S. set an all time record of 4,695 kg ha-1 in 2012. This far exceeded the previous record yield of 3,837 kg ha-1 in 2008. Favorable weather conditions undoubtedly contributed to the record yields in 2012; however, these record yields would not have been achievable without numerous technological advances that have been made in peanut production. The cumulative effect of these technological advances caused U.S. yields to increase six fold from 739 kg ha-1 in 1909 to 4,695 kg ha-1 in 2012. If we disregard the record yields of 2012, the average gain from 1909 to 2011 was 29.9 kg ha-1 yr-1. These yield gains are due to improved cultivars, advances in agronomic practices, improvements in practices and chemistries for control of weed and diseases, and increased use of precision agriculture, particularly for the digging and harvesting of the crop.